Self-Remembering: 3. The Structure of the Mind

“…If you remain at the level of the sensual mind you will not be able to develop the Third State of Consciousness because when you try to remember yourself, you will think of your body as being yourself. The literal sensual person regards his visible body only as real. What he cannot see and touch cannot be real. There is no evidence, he will say. So, believing himself to be his body, when he attempts to remember himself he will, knowingly or unknowingly, remember his body. This keeps him on the level of the sensual mind in the external divisions of centres.”

— Nicoll, COM p. 1715 

INNER, MIDDLE & OUTER DIVISIONS OF CENTERS

“God made sense turn outward, man therefore looks outward, not into himself. Now and again a daring soul, desiring immortality, has looked back and found himself.”

— The Katha Upanishad, Yeats tr.

"The first and highest kind of being-Reason is the pure or Objective Reason proper only to the presence of the highest being-body or to the common presence of those three-brained beings in whom this highest part has already arisen and perfected itself, and then only if it has become the 'initiating center of gravity' of the individual functioning of the whole presence of the being. "The second kind of being-Reason, which is named 'okiartaitokhsa,' can appear in the presence of those three-brained beings in whom the second being-body, or kesdjan body, is already completely coated and functions inde pendently. "As regards the third kind of being-Reason, this is nothing but the automatic functioning proceeding in the common presence of all beings in general and also in the presences of all surplanetary formations, thanks to repeated shocks coming from outside, which evoke habitual reactions from data crystallized in them corresponding to previous accidentally perceived impressions.”

— Gurdjieff, Beelzebub’s Tales The Planet Purgatory 

Our Intellectual and Emotional Centers both have three parts: an outer, middle, and inner part. In our daily lives, however, we mostly use only the outer part of the Intellectual and Emotional Centers. 

Intellectually, we primarily use what is known as the Formatory Center; that outer part of our mind that thinks in a material and habitual way. This is the mind that we use for socializing and carrying out our daily tasks, for interacting with the world. It is the outermost part of our mind, and thus not suitable for deep thinking, pondering on aspects of the Work, or making important decisions. It’s also not the best part of our mind to use for Self-Remembering.

The above figure is called “The Food Transformation Chart”, and is found in Ouspensky’s In Search of the Miraculous. It is a representation of the human body, divided into three levels: head, chest, and abdomen. We won’t talk about Food Transformation for now, but just discuss the structure of the mind. We’ll start by looking at the three circles in red, within the top section (representing the human head). These circles designate energies that work with the outer, middle, and inner parts of the Mind, allowing it to  function. “Sol 48” on the right, works with our outer or Formatory Mind. “Mi 48” works with the middle or emotional part of our Mind (or what we usually label the “Mind”). And “Do 48” on the left energizes our inner mind, or Intellect.

In Chapter 9 of In Search, Gurdjieff indicates that it is at the point of Do 48, the point of our Inner Mind, that we need to give an “artificial shock”, through Self-Remembering. It is not a shock generally done through Remembering the body, therefore, but through accessing the innermost part of our Mind, the “Intellect” — which works with Do 48. It is a shock that takes place at the “inner division” of the Intellectual Center, as Nicoll says in the above quote.

There is a slight difficulty with Remembering Ourselves at the Intellect, at the point of Do 48. And that is that the  familiar world outside us, that we interact with, is outside of our senses, and thus external to our “formatory mind”, or that which uses the energy Sol 48. We aren’t used to turning inwards with our minds to the level of the Intellect, operating with the energy Do 48. We can easily see what’s around us — the world and our bodies, but we can’t as easily see what’s within us — in our own minds. So finding that place within us where Do 48 operates is very tricky.

One caveat, however. As the Buddhists say, all things are connected; especially in regards to our minds. So every attempt at Self-Remembering eventually connects with our innermost minds. Every attempt counts, whether it be our Remembering our bodies, or various parts of our minds, or even various parts of our bodies. They all eventually connect with our Intellect, and therefore count as Self-Remembering. It’s just that the effects on our inner psyche won’t be as powerful in Remembering with the more external, material parts of Ourselves.

But if we try to reach that inner part of our mind directly to Self-Remember, the payoffs will be many and great, in both the near term and the far-off future. The long-term practice of looking inward to one’s Mind to Remember Oneself actually serves to organize the internal structure of one’s Mind. Whereas, a more external method of Self-Remembering leaves one’s own Mind untouched and unorganized — an unknown quantity.

THE “ MIND”

“The mind, buddhi, chitt, and ahamkāra are produced from the combined sattva particles of the subtle elements.  

The Inner organ (antahkarana) is called the…

Mind (manas) - when it considers the pros and cons of a subject.  

Intellect (buddhi) - when it comes to a decision.  

Consciousness or Mind-Stuff (chitta) - as it remembers something.

Egoity (ahamkāra) - if it’s characterized by I-consciousness”.

— Katha Upanishad, Swami Nikhilananda, ed.

In our ordinary daily life, the mind we use is not as clear cut and organized as we would like to think. In fact, after working for some time with my “Centers”, my personal theory is that the Centers are undeveloped, and practically nonexistent in their natural state. Gurdjieff tells us optimistically that we have an Intellectual Center, with three divisions, each division which has three more divisions, each division which yet again has three parts. And same with the Emotional Center. This may be true; however, in fact we have no proper energy (Fa 24) for even the middle section of the Emotional Center without enormous Self-Remembering to produce the higher energies needed. And this great effort of Remembering Oneself also depends on a reservoir of Carbon 12, as I’ve said before.

Nicoll created the above chart depicting the Intellectual Center. Moving is outer, Emotional is middle, and Intellectual is inner. Further divisions of the Center are not shown.

The middle and inner divisions of our Centers rely on the energies produced by Self-Remembering to function. And our Higher Bodies are formed (in my theory) from these middle and inner Center divisions. For instance, the middle division of the Emotional Center is the one place which can produce the Higher Virtues, such as Loving Kindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy, and Equanimity, etc. And yet the energies necessary to fuel that area are not transmuted in the body/mind of the normal person, who does not Remember Himself. That area of the Emotions cannot function. And, even after Self-Remembering, the middle division of the Center must be developed. Also, an effort must be made to produce the Virtues. And finally, the Higher Virtues need to be sealed or affixed into a “crystallized” Second Body or Astral Body.

Gurdjieff tells us in chapter 6 of In Search that we need to start out in the Work by observing ourselves and taking “snapshots” of the activity of the Centers. Yet, to me, a more classical and Spiritually orthodox method is the observation of the activity of one’s Mind. 

The Mind (in my opinion) is defined as the partnership between our Fundamental Consciousness and our as-of-yet undeveloped Intellectual Center. The Mind has an Awareness as well as an ability to think, reason, and make choices. It is “gaslighting” to say otherwise. In the Work, it is the “carriage driver”, who needs to awaken from his dreams at the tavern, and prepare his carriage. The “Mind” has the ability to learn about its inner workings, and the workings of the Centers, and become disciplined. It can make informed choices as it learns. And it has the potential, when healthy and clear, to eventually direct the activity of the Centers.

Gurdjieff speaks little about the “Mind” as an entity. But I believe we have the ability to watch the Mind, to learn its secrets in light of the System, and to develop the Centers with the help of a more conscious Mind. In other words I believe we do have a Mind. One could simply say that it’s the Intellectual Center; but I believe it’s more than that — it includes our personal Consciousness, which is in my opinion a non-material Awareness.

Our initial problem in discovering the Mind is that we inhabit our externals. Not only are our days generally filled with habitual, inane errands — driving from place to place — and typical external household activity; but we also rarely look to our own Spiritual needs. Rarely do we take the time to sit, and examine our inner Mind, tending to its development. Certainly knowing one’s “machine” is important, as Gurdjieff says. But I believe it is a mistake to dwell on certain Work refrains: “man cannot ‘Do’”, “man is a machine”, “man has no permanent ‘I’”. These, although somewhat descriptive, are overall unhelpful, in my experience. To me, a good place to start in the Work is to watch, examine, and discipline the Mind on a daily basis. One begins the Work in earnest and in reality then when one begins to Self-Remember the inner aspects of one’s Mind.

THE JOURNEY INWARD: STARTING WITH THE SHEATHS

"How are we to take our bodies if we are not to take them as ourselves? The question is connected with notes in octaves, or degrees, which are the same. The physical body is the most external degree of ourselves. That is, it is the lowest or ultimate degree through which all higher or more internal degrees, such as belong to thought, feeling and will, manifest themselves."

— Nicoll, COM, p. 1449

Accessing the deepest part of the mind takes practice. And there is a way to begin to mentally move inward by feeling or sensing the inner “sheaths” of the body. These sheaths rest like Russian dolls, one within another. They are: 1. the physical, food-based body, 2. The Pranic (Vital Breath) Sheath, 3. The Mental Sheath, 4. The Intellect Sheath, and 5. The Bliss Sheath. Within the Bliss Sheath lies Brahman.

The above chart is a representation of the five sheaths and Brahman, taken from the Taittiriya Upanishad, Chapter 2.

The Pranic Sheath is related to the breath, and serves as a link between the physical body and the Mind. And the Bliss Sheath is a connection with Brahman.

One can start out trying to Self-Remember by simply being aware of the body. Moving inward, one can next begin to sense the Pranic sheath by watching the breath, and sensing its connection with the Mind. There is Prana in the breath and Prana in the Mind, as well. The Pranic sheath, to me, can be sensed in the blood. Remembering the Pranic sheath tends to dispel fear, as Prana is the Life Essence. Next, the Mental sheath is of the same substance and has the same character as the Mind. Yet it resides in the body. And finally, one can Remember the Intellectual and Bliss sheaths, the inner layers.

Here is another representation in Nicoll, of a similar concept:

It’s important to keep in mind that our “Mind” (or that which I designate the middle or Emotional Division of the Mind — working with Mi 48) is different from our Mental sheath which is different from the second body (or “Astral Body”). Though all these are similar, connected, and work together in harmony. 

Likewise, the Intellect (working with Do 48) is different from the Intellectual sheath which is different from the third body (or so-called “Mental Body”). And yet they’re all similar and connected.

In addition to all of these is our Fundamental Awareness (the “Observer”).

This is how I organize my internal mind-structure, from outer to inner:

1. Physical Brain

2. Outer Mind (“Formatory Center”), works with Sol 48

3. Middle, Emotional Mind (known as “Mind”), works with Mi 48

4. Inner Mind (known as “Intellect”), works with Do 48

5. Clear, luminous Fundamental Consciousness (according to the Buddhists, it is non-material)

THE FUNCTIONS OF CENTERS

“Thus in observing the functions of the human machine it is necessary to understand the correct divisions of the functions  observed and to be able to define them exactly and at once; and the definition must not be a verbal but an inner definition; by  taste, by sensation, in the same way as we define all inner experiences.”

— Gurdjieff, In Search, chapter 6

My experience of sensation within my own body — which has informed my own theories — is that the Centers have no substantial form and structure in actuality at first. Rather, I do find it much easier to identify and work with the different Hydrogens themselves, which serve to fuel our confused and undeveloped emotions and thoughts. The Centers are something we must Work to form, in my experience. The great problem facing us is not that our Centers work with wrong energy, or that they do the work of other Centers. It’s that we in reality just don’t have Centers needed to think and feel. Also, when we are called upon to express a higher feeling or thought, we do not have the experience, knowledge and development needed to express from a more inner level. 

The more refined emotions work with the Hydrogens which proceed from the breath, rather than those from our food-based body. The food-based body (based on the food we eat) is geared only to express the unrefined and grosser thoughts and feelings, although the body does have an emotional area. The breath octave is more subtle, and perfectly suited to develop into the Astral Body and express the higher emotions. As well, the impressions octave, developing from the impressions received from the head, is subtler yet; and its Hydrogens are perfectly suited to create our spiritual thoughts. The Mental Body has the ability to work with two or more ideas at once, transcending duality.

So here is a chart, which one can study — and should memorize — which shows the breakdown of the various Hydrogens and the Centers they should ideally work with. It is a good introduction to the process of knowing and “tasting” the various Hydrogens. And this can ultimately lead to the Work of forming the second and third bodies themselves. I will just say that, in forming the higher bodies, if one gets to the point of having the ability to “sense” the Hydrogens, that emotions will be located in the chest area, and thinking will be located in the head area.

Generally, in working on forming the second/Astral body, which is geared for emotional expression, I personally don’t do much at first with H 12, but work on development of emotions using H 24. Gurdjieff mentions in In Search that the “Emotional Center” is more suited to using H 12. In my own Work, I find H 24 (on the breath octave) does quite nicely in expressing the subtler emotions. And I find that Animal Magnetism, H 96 (also on the breath or Astral octave), can to an extent express higher emotions too; oftentimes working in parallel with the higher H 24 in the chest area.

As you can see from the very first chart at top (the food chart), the three yellow circles marked H 24 in the middle section designate outer, middle, and inner Hydrogens which fuel outer, middle, and inner emotions;  just like the three red circles did for the Thinking Center. It is the middle circle (fa 24) which works with the higher emotions of the Astral Body. The H 24 (re 24) on the left is a part of the impressions octave, and is thus subject to the Thinking Center.

THE BREATH & IMPRESSIONS OCTAVES 

“What is called according to one terminology the 'astral body,' is called in another terminology the 'higher emotional center,' although the difference here does not lie in the terminology alone. These are, to speak more correctly, different aspects of the next stage of man's evolution. It can be said that the 'astral body' is necessary for the complete and proper functioning of the 'higher emotional center' in unison with the lower. Or it can be said that the 'higher emotional center' is necessary for the work of the 'astral body.'

"The 'mental body' corresponds to the 'higher thinking center.' It would be wrong to say that they are one and the same thing. But one requires the other, one cannot exist without the other, one is the expression of certain sides and functions of the other.”

— Gurdjieff, In Search of the Miraculous 

Perhaps this chart, showing the breath octave in green — starting at the left from Do 192 — and the impressions octave in blue — starting at the left from Do 48 — will help clarify.

The breath series or octave starts (in the chest area) at the green circle, do 192 on the left, and transmutes up the octave: re 96, mi 48, fa 24, sol 12, and la 6. Do 192 stands for Air.

Similarly, the blue impressions series of Hydrogens or octave starts (in the head) with do 48, re 24, and mi 12. Do 48 would be an impression.

The smaller Hydrogen numbers like H 12 and 6 are higher, more energetic, and more spiritual. The larger numbers like 768 etc. less so.

You can clearly see the green “Fa 24” — which fuels the Higher Emotions — in the middle, arising from the breath (which is marked a green “Do 192”). The breath is the foundation for the energy which fuels the Higher Emotions and which forms the Astral Body. Equally, the impressions octave starts at the blue “Do 48” at the top left, and proceeds through “Re 24” (also an Emotional Energy) to “Mi 12”. The emotions of the Mental Body exist to serve the functioning of the Mental Body’s Intellect.

The “food octave” is the uncolored series of circles, starting with “Do 768” at bottom left (Do 768 is “food”). In the middle section, you can see the three H 24s, which fuel the emotions of the Mental Body (blue re 24), the Astral Body (green fa 24), and the food-based body (uncolored la 24). For reasons I’ll illustrate in a later blog, in forming the Astral Body I Work mainly with only the three green Hydrogens, Re 96, Mi 48, and Fa 24. These energize the middle sections of our Centers and form the nucleus of the Astral Body. The Higher Bodies are formed by using just three Hydrogens per each body: one Hydrogen for its lower story, one for its middle story, and one for its top story. But more on this later. 

The most important thing for you to comprehend at this point is that the Astral Body is based on the breath and its series of Hydrogens — and therefore the middle sections of the intellectual and emotional centers. And the Mental Body is based on the “intellect”, which processes impressions, and the resulting series of Hydrogens — and therefore the inner sections of the intellectual and emotional centers.

Self-Remembering: 2. The Metaphysics

"Strictly speaking, you cannot as yet speak of knowledge because you do not know with what knowledge begins. Knowledge begins with the teaching of the cosmoses.”

— Gurdjieff, ISOTM

UNDERSTANDING THE MESOCOSMOS

In order to know himself, Man needs to know the Cosmos above him, as well as the Cosmos directly below. Man — the Tritocosmos — is surrounded by the Earth (the Mesocosmos) above him in scale, and he is also made up of “atoms” (Microcosms) within, or below, him. Man’s physical body is a product of the Earth, and it lives upon the planet Earth. However, as the Tritocosmos, Man is a World in his own right. The Earth as a World is infinitely greater than the World of Man; just as Man is infinitely greater than an Atom.

We need to understand our own physical bodies; our bodies and everything they entail make up the “Tritocosmos”. However, when we start to understand our own minds, we are beginning to explore and develop our Astral Bodies, which correspond to the level of the World above us — the Mesocosmos, or Earth. The Earth, according to Gurdjieff, is a living, breathing being: “Each cosmos is a being which lives, breathes, thinks, feels and dies.” However, as I said, the Earth in relation to a Tritocosmos is infinitely greater than a Man.

"THE DIAGRAM OF EVERYTHING LIVING"

"Ahimsa (non-violence) is not causing pain."

-- Sri Swami Satchidananda, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

"And as for these factors, which are the sole possible means for the assimilation of the cosmic substances required for the coating and perfecting of the higher being-bodies, today we call them 'conscious labor' and 'intentional suffering. '"

-- Beelzebub's Tales   

"Fusion, inner unity, is obtained by means of 'friction,' by the struggle between 'yes' and 'no' in man.”

— Gurdjieff, ISOTM 

Perhaps one key to understanding Man -- and his Bodies -- in relation to the Earth might be an interpretation of "The Diagram of Everything Living", found on page 323 of Ouspensky's In Search. In this chart, every form of intelligent Being is listed on a stair step ladder, starting from Metals at the bottom and going up to Archangels, with two Higher entities listed above even them: Eternal-Unchanging and the Absolute.

                                             The Diagram of All Things Living

If one takes "Vertebrates" on the diagram, as potentially referring partially to human beings (since they qualify as Vertebrates), one might hypothetically postulate that the “Vertebrates” square might perhaps encompass what Gurdjieff calls Men Numbers 1, 2, and 3 (physical, emotional, and intellectual men). The square marked “Man”, then could possibly denote Gurdjieff’s Balanced Man (Man number 4): a man with the ability to use all his Centers — Intellectual, Emotional, and Moving. I’ll have more to say about Balanced Man in a future blog. "Angels", on the diagram, might represent a Man having a perfected or developed kesdjan/Astral body. And "Archangels" might represent a Man having a perfected Soul/Highest Being Body. 

This interpretation syncs to an extent with Ouspensky's comment that his group had come to the idea that "Angels" represented Planets, and "Archangels" represented Suns. Gurdjieff's chart on page 94 of In Search neatly summerizes all three points of view: my interpretation of Man and The Diagram of Everything Living, the teaching of the Cosmoses (which has the Earth as the representation of All Planets), and Ouspensky's view of "Angels" and "Archangels" as Planets and Suns. 

The chart on p. 94 aligns Man's four "Bodies" with the Ray of Creation. Man's Physical Body aligns with the "Earth". His Astral Body aligns with "All Planets". His Mental Body aligns with the "Sun". And The Divine Body aligns with "All Suns".

A LIVING EARTH

"As a way of talking about the mystery teachings, furthermore, ecology has a special advantage, because the mystery teachings themselves are a science of whole systems. It is not going too far to call the mystery teachings an ecology of the spirit, just as the science of ecology could well be called the mystery teachings of nature."

-- Greer, John Michael. Mystery Teachings from the Living Earth: An Introduction to Spiritual Ecology (p. 12). Red Wheel Weiser. Kindle Edition. 

The key to understanding the Earth as a living Being, is to look at it Ecologically. Ecology is the science of understanding the Earth from a whole systems point of view, and is the best way we have to understand exactly what the Earth is. When the Earth, of which Man is a part, is viewed Ecologically, Man can better know how to live in relation to the larger Cosmos. And from that understanding, and the life changes that follow, Man can start to gain knowledge of that part of himself which corresponds to the level of the Mesocosmos: that is, his developing Astral Body. 

When we have Self-Evolved to a certain point, our Astral Bodies can start to develop from the middle parts of our Intellectual and Emotional Centers. The middle parts of these Centers are sustained through the energies of the “breath octave”, the series of Hydrogens arising from the breath. This is what Gurdjieff meant by saying we “coat” the kesdjan (Astral) body with our breath. However, the “essence” of the Astral Body is provided by the Higher Emotions proceeding from the Higher Emotional Center. These Emotions are wed to specific Hydrogens within the body, along the Breath Octave, and then fused together. This process develops the middle parts of our Centers, and over time forms the kesdjan or Astral Body.

Humans within society don’t function in relation to the Earth as it exists objectively. And certainly not in relation to an Earth which is a living, breathing, thinking, feeling Being. But that is the way we need to look at the Earth; and we need to adjust our relationship to it accordingly. When we adjust our lives in relation to a truer conception of the Earth, our Minds have more ability to grow into an accurate Spiritual essence. And at that point our Astral Bodies can begin to develop.

THE MOON’S INFLUENCE ON THE EARTH

“The idea was roughly this: humanity, or more correctly, organic life on earth, is acted upon simultaneously by influences proceeding from various sources and different worlds: influences from the planets, influences from the moon, influences from the sun, influences from the stars. All these influences act simultaneously; one influence predominates at one moment and another influence at another moment. And for man there is a certain possibility of making a choice of influences; in other words, of passing from one influence to another.”

— In Search of the Miraculous 

According to Gurdjieff, life on Earth exists to serve the Moon’s needs. And Mankind is not exempt from that servitude, although He does have a chance to escape the Moon's influence. Psychologically, Man operates mostly in the external parts of his mind. The forces which come from the Moon keep Man fixated on externals and keep his mind colored with a negative tint. Not only that, but Mankind as a whole is kept from Evolution by lunar and cosmic forces, according to Gurdjieff. Man generally exists in a state of unconsciousness Gurdjieff called “sleep”.

The key to breaking this sleep is Self-Remembering. Self-Remembering represents the next level above the unconsciousness which Man is in. And Self-Remembering is a way of relating in a very real way to the next World above Man: the Mesocosmos, or Earth. Every time we Remember Ourselves we are getting in touch with higher influences.

Our immersion in duality is a constant state. Our minds struggle to do “good” in the world, but, failing at that, we end up doing “evil”. These constant efforts, to do one thing and prevent the other, are our “discursive thoughts”, which go up and down in a cycling motion. This cycling motion of our minds, and our lives, is a symptom of our sleep, our life under the Moon’s influence, and our undeveloped state as Tritocosmoses.

When we Self-Remember, we lift ourselves above the discursive mind and elevate ourselves up nearer the Mesocosmos, and even the Deuterocosmos — the Sun. The transmutation of Self-Remembering that takes place at the point of Do 48 is the start within us of the Impressions Octave. The Impressions Octave is the seed of our Mental Body, which corresponds (according to Gurdjieff) to the level of the Sun. Through Remembering Ourselves — and the development of the breath and impressions octaves — we come up out of the Moon’s influence, and out of the tedious cycling of our mental lives. Also, having as our Aim the wish to form a Higher Body, gives our efforts at “being good” a new dimension. Our search for Higher Bodies gives that “goodness” a Reality, as well as a chance to have it adhere to us permanently.

REMEMBERING OUR “SELF”

"In Self-Remembering which self do you wish to remember?"

— Gurdjieff, as related by Nicoll 

There are any number of ways to Self-Remember; and it can become a complex effort at certain times. Initially, though, it’s easiest to double one’s attention back on to one’s physical body. The idea is to simply be aware of one’s body. The awareness of one’s body has much to be said for it. It provides an anchor for the mind. It can produce a grounding effect. And exploring the body with one’s awareness can be a doorway to much wisdom. A practice of sensing the body can lead to the ability to sense and identify the different energies within the body, represented by the “Hydrogens” on the Food Transformation Chart. This ability is an essential key to the “crystallization” and correct development of the Higher Bodies.

Self-Remembering of the physical body is good. However, if one studies the Food Transformation Chart one will see that there are four or five higher energies (or Hydrogens) which come about through Self-Remembering. All these higher energies fuel the Intellect and inner parts of the Emotional Center; and can only be created with an inner effort at Self-Remembering, an effort of the Mind. The deeper into one’s Mind one searches for one’s “Self”, in Self-Remembering, the more effective Self-Remembering will be, in creating these energies. One will be able to “feel” the influx of new energies within one’s mind.

The Work says that along with Remembering Ourselves, we must avoid negative emotions. The inner and middle parts of Centers that these newly created energies work with are not suited to negative emotions. Avoiding negative emotions is preparation for the “Second Conscious Shock”. We are told in the Work, that we must do the First Conscious Shock (Self-Remember) for a very long time. And this is true, in that our Minds are cloudy and impure at first: our “machines” don’t function well. But gradually, over time, Self-Remembering helps clear our Minds and Emotions, allowing us to access a little bit of positivity into our Being. We can begin to bring in the positive influences, which can be accessed through small efforts with the Second Conscious Shock.

The prelude to the Second Conscious Shock is an approach of utilizing the First Conscious Shock in a slightly new way. At first the First Conscious Shock can be used for a variety of reasons, from simply trying it out, to gaining a greater consciousness, to a way of redirecting one’s attention to oneself. But there is a method of holding in one’s mind an ideal, or a virtue, or a positive quality, or anything of a superior inner nature and then sealing it inside one’s being by Remembering Oneself. Remembering Oneself in relation to a positive emotion, thought, or ideal is a specific technique to increase one’s inner positive qualities.

After holding an ideal in one’s mind and then Remembering Oneself in order to fixate the ideal within Oneself, one can logically see the next step, which is “Remembering” the positive quality directly.

APPROACHING THE SECOND CONSCIOUS SHOCK: AN INITIAL STEP

“Seal” : Something that confirms, ratifies, or makes secure.

— Webster’s Dictionary 

There is a way of moving very tentatively into the Second Conscious Shock. This type of intentional shock deals with the emotions. The Second Conscious Shock is a technique used to “seal” a “virtue”, thus making it permanent. Basically, it entails, in a like fashion to “Remembering Oneself”, one placing one’s Attention on and “Remembering” a “good quality”, “positive trait”, or “virtue”.

To try it, one starts first with avoiding a particular negative thought or deed by Remembering Oneself, as an alternative to being negative; ideally by Remembering one’s own Mind. At that point one has hopefully avoided this “negative thought”. But then, if one can come up with an opposing “positive thought”, or antidote, to replace it, one can “Remember” that positive thought, sealing it in place into one’s mind. These two steps: avoiding a negativity through Self-Remembering, and then “Remembering” its antidote, are an early movement or introduction into the Second Conscious Shock. 

This is spoken of by Nicoll as, “going with our better 'I's”. The idea or principle is to gradually replace the unpleasant qualities in ourselves with more virtuous qualities. The method is to “see” these good qualities within one’s Mind, and then to “Remember” them with one’s Attention. This is the beginning of the Second Conscious Shock.

The initial act of Remembering Oneself produces the two higher Hydrogens Mi 12 & Sol 12. At this initial stage, however, one is generally working with the Emotional Center, and Astral Body formation. So one is likely dealing with the subtle emotional transformation of just Sol 12 into La 6, along the breath octave. This transformation technically requires no “second shock”. At a certain point soon after the two higher being bodies have crystallized, and which I’ll describe in detail later, one should initiate work with all three bodies (physical, astral, and mental) separately and in conjunction with one another. Actual work in a more intensive — and direct — way with the Second Conscious Shock comes later.

There are variations on this “seal”, or introductory second conscious shock, one can try. After attempting to Remember a “virtue” in one’s mind, one can then immediately “Remember” one’s physical body, thus “sealing” the “virtue” more securely onto oneself. One can also “Remember” another person who’s in one’s presence, if one is aware of a virtue in that person; thus sealing a virtue onto that person’s being or “Self”. Also, one can reinforce a part of oneself: for instance, one can “Remember” one’s “Intellectual Center” — “sealing” that as well.

After Remembering Oneself, both Mi 12 and Sol 12 have been created. Sol 12, which is a part of the breath octave, can be brought up to the heart area and used as an emotional energy along with the energy Fa 24, thereby generating higher and subtler emotions. And Mi 12, which is part of the impressions octave, can be brought up to the level of the Head and transmuted, to function with the energy Do 48 which is already there, thus serving to facilitate subtler and more refined thoughts. I personally find the energy Mi 12 also seems to work within the “heart area” of the mental body.

 

I'm still learning about all these things, thank goodness, but I have an inkling that the transmutation of Si 12 into Do 6 has to do with the Physical Body itself: the Aim which one keeps for one's physical body on Earth, the Holiness of that Aim, and the Actions one carries out in fulfillment of that Aim.

I hope these mentions of the different numbers — H 12, H 6 and so on — aren’t frustrating to my reader. I will try to tackle the details that explain them later. I feel the numbers are important because I base my system of Astral and Mental body formation on the inner recognition or “taste” of the various Hydrogens. My strong belief is that the Higher Bodies can be formed without a knowledge of the “numbers”. But I find the Hydrogen system and Food Chart helpful in approaching the formation of the higher intellect and emotions, and eventually the “Bodies” themselves.

In my next blog I’ll finally get to my theories of the structure of the mind. I’ll hopefully have a couple of charts, and apply my approach of Self-Remembering to my views on the architecture of the mind. I believe knowledge of the mind’s structure is important for “building” the Higher Bodies.

On Remembering Oneself: 1. The Alchemy

"In speaking of evolution it is necessary to understand from the outset that no mechanical evolution is possible. The evolution of man is the evolution of his consciousness. And 'consciousness' cannot evolve unconsciously. The evolution of man is the evolution of his will, and 'will' cannot evolve involuntarily. The evolution, of man is the evolution of his power of doing, and 'doing' cannot be the result of things which 'happen.'”

— Gurdjieff, ISOTM

THE ALCHEMY OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Gurdjieff’s system teaches a way of Self-Evolution -- a Self-Evolution carried out primarily through the increase of one’s Consciousness. That is, a follower of the Fourth Way develops his Consciousness, in order to raise the level of his Being and Knowledge. Consciousness, according to Gurdjieff, is a material substance, and Gurdjieff lays out specific steps one can take to increase Consciousness. The first step for greater Consciousness is to “Remember Oneself”, aka. “the first conscious shock". 

What is Remembering Oneself? It is an intentional action involving one’s Perceptions, wherein one is Aware of oneself in daily life. Essentially, it requires a “doubling” of one’s Consciousness; of being simultaneously aware both outwardly towards one’s environment, and also at the same time back in towards one’s Self. It is this doubling which provides the so-called “shock” — or necessary energy —  needed to allow “impressions” to be “digested”, or rather “transmuted”. In other words Self-Remembering allows us to better perceive or “see” what we are focusing on. And our focus can be on the environment outside of us, or on our Mind within us.

Initially, in attempting to Self-Remember, it is easiest and most convenient to be Self-Aware of one’s physical body. We are attempting to Remember our “Self”, and one’s body is the most obvious representation of one’s Self. But Gurdjieff’s system is about the development of the Inner Man, the inner Self, and ultimately in Self-Remembering the idea is to redirect one’s Awareness inwards to one’s Mind.

Along with Self-Remembering, or as a part of it, it is also necessary to “Observe Oneself”. Observing Oneself and Remembering Oneself go hand in hand; and are the keys which begin the process of gaining a greater Consciousness and elevating one’s Being and Knowledge. Self-Observation is a method of self analysis with which Self-Remembering is entwined, both actions affecting the other within one's psychology.

THE ALCHEMY OF SELF-REMEMBERING 

"…in order to become free, man must gain inner freedom.”

— Gurdjieff, In Search, chapter 6

“Remembering Oneself” is an alchemy of the body and mind — both of which are made up of matters, which Gurdjieff calls “Hydrogens”. Specific Hydrogens are involved in the process of “Self-Remembering” itself, and other new Hydrogens are created as a result of Self-Remembering. Ultimately, in order to create Higher Bodies (the Astral, Mental, and Divine) for onself, one must understand the whole process of Self-Remembering (the internal alchemy). One must also be able to sense the different parts of one’s mind involved, and be able to isolate and recognize the Hydrogens acting inside one’s body, and know them by name (e.g. “Do 192”, or “carbon 12”).

All of these names of Hydrogens can be found on the Food Transformation Chart, in Ouspensky’s In Search of the Miraculous (p. 190). The Food Transformation Chart is a diagram which summarizes the digestion or “transmutation” of the three “Foods” which Man takes in. These “Foods” are: ordinary food, air, and impressions. Ouspensky’s exposition of the Transmutation of Foods is difficult to follow for beginners, I have found. I recommend instead, first turning to Maurice Nicoll, and reading the five chapters called “On Hydrogens”, starting at p. 181 (vol. 1) of his Commentaries. This is a much easier introduction for deciphering Ouspensky’s Food Chart.

The Foods Transformation Chart of Gurdjieff above. There are three levels, denoting the three levels of a human being: lower, chest, and head. The syllables “do”, on the left side, represent the intake of a “food”: edible food (do 768) in the stomach, air (do 192) in the chest area, and impressions (do 48) in the head.

Self-Remembering is essentially a solution to a very serious problem: that we are not truly aware of the impressions which enter us. We generally acknowledge the environment around us, but we are basically just marking time, rather than completely engaging — intellectually, emotionally, and physically — in the symphony around and within us. 

The reason we aren't aware, according to Gurdjieff’s system, is because of one fundamental thing: we lack a certain specific “chemical” at a point in our mind, that’s needed to transform the impressions we receive. That is, we can’t “digest” our impressions (the Food of impressions).

The act of Remembering Oneself is an “artificial” way to intentionally overcome the blockage in our perceptions, and help us to become more conscious. However the process of Self-Remembering is also dependent on a continuous supply of this specific missing “chemical”, which it uses in its “alchemy”. So again, we are faced with the hurdle of this particular missing substance, in carrying out our Self-Development.

THE ALCHEMY OF SEX

“Q. Do we have to produce Carbon 12, or is it in the organism?   

A. …we must bring [Carbon 12] from one part of the machine to another part—and this means special effort. We will not know we are doing it, but by making this special effort we will be bringing Carbon 12 from one place to another. But, of course, if there is not enough in the body we cannot bring it there. If you have money, you can put it in one pocket or another, but if you have none you cannot—it is quite simple.”

— Ouspensky, The Fourth Way

The Fourth Way system generally doesn’t say a lot about the Alchemy involved in Self-Remembering, and the "chemical" or “Hydrogen” which is missing at that point. There are hints in the literature here and there; but ultimately one must use one’s inner experience to discover the nature of the Alchemy of Self-Remembering, not to mention the pathway to Higher Bodies. Certainly one can refer to Ouspensky's Food Chart to track the movement of Hydrogens; but what exactly is this missing Hydrogen?

The substance is called "carbon 12": "carbon" meaning it has a positive charge or force to it, and "12" referring to the level the substance is at. However, for now this information concerning the missing "chemical" is unimportant. The real question is, where can this substance be found? The answer is that it is in the human body; however it is not in the head, where it needs to be, in order to help us perceive impressions. This “12” substance is all located in the lower part of the body; and it is the substance or energy which fuels the Sex Center.

The human body, according to Gurdjieff’s system, can be divided into three levels. The first level, everything below the level of the chest, initiates the digestion of ordinary food. The second level at the chest level breathes, and thereby initiates the transformation or “digestion” of air. And the third level or level of the head takes in “impressions”, initiating their “digestion” or transformation.

What is the missing substance called “carbon 12”? To make things simple, the digestion of ordinary food is the only natural process which creates something called a “12” Hydrogen. All of that 12 Hydrogen ends up located in our first level or the lower part of the body. However it is the top, head level, unfortunately, which needs some of that “12” substance to facilitate the digestion of our incoming impressions (called Do 48). 

So there are really three problems to solve: making sure there is a sufficient supply of “Si 12” — or Energy of Sex — in the first place; then bringing the “12” substance up to the top, head level where it’s needed; and finally making it accessible for use in our mind. Since “Si 12” is the energy primarily used by the Sex Center, it’s therefore not a suitable substance for use, in that particular form, with the innermost parts of our Mind. When Si 12 (Sex Energy) is brought in to the area of the mind, it’s nature must be changed into a form of psychic energy — having no more characteristics of the energy of sex in it at that point. This is a primary reason for retaining a substantial degree of “brahmacharya” in one’s life.

Why is H 12 (or “Hydrogen 12”) so important? Well two reasons. H 12 is the highest, most spiritual substance made by the body on its own, and it is used for all of our higher functioning. Also, it’s the primary energy which the Sex Center works with. It’s a very powerful energy, which is one reason why humans spend so much of their time thinking about sex. But, as the act of producing a child is also known as a “Sacred Act”, the Sex Center needs the highest, most spiritual energy available in order to function at that high level. A child is none other than a being from on High! However one can as well use the energy of H 12 to make a different kind of “sacred child”, within oneself: that is, one can create a “Higher Body”.

SELF-EVOLUTION: STARTING OUT

“For there are eunuchs who were born that way,

and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—

and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. 

The one who can accept this should accept it.“

— Jesus

Gurdjieff expressed definite views concerning sex, in Ouspensky’s In Search. As well, Gurdjieff’s own sex life has received much publicity, nothing of which I will repeat here. In the end, I have found it most productive to think for myself and develop my own views on sex. Likely, the reader has little interest in my views on the subject, especially considering I have as many flaws as the next man. But I do feel led to say something about the relation of sex to Self-Evolution. No, I’m not going to say that a completely evolved Man (a man on level 7 or even 8) never has sex. Though, that could be the case.

What is logical and (perhaps) self-evident within Gurdjieff’s system, however — and which one can try for oneself, if one wants — is that there is a conscious choice one can make; to either use the energy of Si 12 for ordinary sex, or to use it for the process of Self-Remembering, as carbon 12. It is a matter of where one decides to direct one’s energy. Certainly there is a way to balance the requirements of a committed relationship with the requirements of Spiritual Work. But whether in a relationship or single, there should preferably be a space for any person to develop one’s Inner Self. If a person is healthy spiritually, then he/she will also be happy; and those to whom he/she is connected will then feel happier as well.

BECOMING A “NEW MAN”

“Brahmacharya brings material progress and psychic advancement. It is the basis for morality. It is the basis for eternal life. It is a spring flower that exhales immortality from its petals. It is the shield for waging war against the internal Asuras—lust, anger and greed. It serves as a gateway to the bliss beyond. It opens the door of Moksha.”

— Sri Swami Sivananda

I will also say a little here about emotions and sex. Gurdjieffians talk a lot about negative emotions, and for good reason. The theory goes (in the system) that the Emotional Center doesn’t actually have a negative side. And that our “negative” emotions we manifest do harm to ourselves. There is a truth to this, in that the so-called “negative” actions or words or even thoughts we express end up getting stored away in our bodies and minds, where they exist as tensions. And also in that these stored negativities eventually come out again and again as further negative actions, words, and thoughts. 

This is the psychological version of samsara: the Buddhist ever-turning wheel of life and death, which one can never escape. And which is fueled by the three poisons of ignorance, anger, and lust. The Fourth Way system doesn’t refer to this Buddhist wheel, of course. However Gurdjieffians do, surprisingly, often refer to “metanoia”, or repentance, or as Nicoll likes to translate it, “a change of mind”. Metanoia is a technique for addressing the negativities stored in the body and mind, which originate from one’s past actions. Metanoia, or repentance, is a way to become conscious of the negative predispositions within oneself, confront them, and then to resolve them. 

I personally have found that metanoia is most effective, although also most difficult, when I search within my emotions for these stored “past deeds”. Although a “change of mind” is important to carry out intellectually, the emotions also definitely harbor the effects of one’s past indiscretions. The problems we store in the Emotional Center are often unconscious, I’ve found. And resolving these unconscious “emotional knots” helps to also resolve issues in the Intellectual Center, and the Sex Center.

TAKING THE FIRST STEPS 

“What may be called the 'astral body' is obtained by means of fusion, that is, by means of terribly hard inner work and struggle. Man is not born with it. And only very few men acquire an 'astral body. Fusion, inner unity, is obtained by means of 'friction,' by the struggle between 'yes' and 'no' in man. If a man lives without inner struggle, if everything happens in him without opposition, if he goes wherever he is drawn or wherever the wind blows, he will remain such as he is. But if a struggle begins in him, and particularly if there is a definite line in this struggle, then, gradually, permanent traits begin to form themselves, he begins to 'crystallize.'”

— Gurdjieff, ISOTM

The best Aim one can have initially in the path for Higher Bodies is simply to try to Remember Oneself. Then adding the benefit of Self-Observation is also important. Next, attaching the power of “metanoia” to that clears up the body and mind, and increases the potency of Self-Observation. Finally, instituting a minimum amount of sexual continence stabilizes one’s Mind, allows it to turn inwards, and facilitates the storage and flow of the necessary energy. These would make up a good tool box for any start on the Fourth Way. For a textbook, one could purchase the Commentaries by Nicoll and resolve to read one of his essays a day.

“A man must work from love of the work. This brings Hydrogen 12 up to the place of incoming impressions. Incoming impressions are Hydrogen 48. Hydrogen 12 is not present naturally at this point in the human machine. It has to be brought up to this point. If a person takes life as usual, in the ordinary way—that is, always receives impressions in the same mechanical way and speaks from them in the same mechanical way and acts from them in the same mechanical way—then nothing can change in the person. Such people cannot evolve. They do not see where the point of working on themselves lies. They think work is something outside them. A person must bring a very powerful hydrogen to the point where impressions are coming in. This is Hydrogen 12.”

— Nicoll, COM p. 60   

I hope this essay somewhat clarifies the first steps in the path to Higher Bodies. These are some of the mechanics of the Alchemy of Self-Remembering. Self-Remembering is a method to begin to transmute our Consciousness, Thoughts, and Emotions. In the next blog, I’d like to write about what I call the Metaphysics of Self-Remembering. There is a structure to the mind I’d like to talk about, which one should know about for Self-Remembering. Self-Remembering has the ability to make positive aspects of our Mind permanent, if we so desire. And Self-Remembering has within it the seed of the secret “Second Conscious Shock”, which I will begin to unveil next time.

Introduction to the Concept of Higher Bodies

"The process of evolution, of that evolution which is possible for humanity as a whole, is completely analogous, to the process of evolution possible for the individual man. And it begins with the same thing, namely, a certain group of cells gradually becomes conscious; then it attracts to itself other cells, subordinates others, and gradually makes the whole organism serve its aims and not merely eat, drink, and sleep. This is evolution and there can be no other kind of evolution. In humanity as in individual man everything begins with the formation of a conscious nucleus. All the mechanical forces of life fight against the formation of this conscious nucleus in humanity, in just the same way as all mechanical habits, tastes and weaknesses fight against conscious self-remembering in man."

— Gurdjieff, from ISOTM

INTRODUCTION 

This will be an ongoing post setting out my views on the Gurdjieffian system of the formation, or “coating”, of “Higher Bodies”. Higher Bodies, and their creation, are not exclusive to Gurdjieff’s system, but can be found also in Tibetan Buddhism, where they’re known as Buddha Bodies. I am a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, and I’ve found certain ancient knowledge embedded in Buddhism to be helpful for understanding Fourth Way ideas. However, this is a blog about the Fourth Way system; so most of the understanding I have will be communicated within that system’s framework. 

Regarding the perennial World Religions, however, I personally find, a.) there is an influx of “transcendence” available to oneself from association with a religion (or as Gurdjieff says, a contact with “B” influences), and b.) the Fourth Way Path suffers from a certain of lack of “vertical scale”, or of being mentally stuck in a two-dimensional plane, when one attempts to follow the system’s ideas without being personally associated with a Religion. It’s debatable if Gurdjieff thought his ideas should be studied outside of a Religious context. And although Gurdjieff was skeptical of contemporary religions, he probably thought of himself as a Christian, even calling his system “esoteric Christianity”.

Be that as it may, the Higher Bodies can be called “Fourth Way”, or “Buddhist”, or “Christian” interchangeably, because their actual system of formation consists of pure mechanics. The building of the Higher Bodies is a science, a science that uses knowledge of the system of Hydrogens, as well as an understanding of the Food Transformation Chart (the chart in Ouspensky’s Fragments which deals with foods and the transmutation of energies). The mechanics involved are a science, but they are also an art form, in that the mechanics relate to not one but two different spheres: the physical  - or material sphere, and also the conceptual - or idealistic sphere. 

To be specific, the structure of each Higher Body relates in one sense to the idea of “Hydrogens”, which I think of as material in nature — all Four Bodies consist of Hydrogens. Then in another sense, one should hopefully look at the Second, Third, and Fourth Bodies as also non-material — as spiritual in nature, as relating to a higher plane, or rather to that of their corresponding Planetary (astral), Solar (mental), or Starry (divine) worlds. 

The Ray of Creation itself is often misunderstood, specifically in trying to comprehend the meaning of its various levels — especially the higher ones. To get some sense of the Awesomeness of the Higher Worlds (rather than simply seeing them just as planets or the sun), it might be easiest to start by understanding that the Astral World correlates with a fully developed Astral (second) Body. An Astral Body is a Body which expresses and makes manifest the Higher Emotions proceeding from the Higher Emotional Center. The Centers of the developed Astral Body have been purified and adapted, so as to channel the emotions such as faith, hope, love, patience, generosity etc. etc. etc. These higher emotions belong to the next World above the Earth on the Ray of Creation, the Planetary (or Astral) World. Therefore, it is helpful to think of the Astral World in terms of Emotions — specifically the Higher or Spiritual Emotions.

Thus, to summarize, my process of coating the Bodies starts with the long-term practice of the First and Second Artificial Shocks, and then finally culminates in the methods using breath and contemplation Gurdjieff mentioned. His method of contemplation (I believe) is the Conscious fusion of Hydrogens (material) with Higher Emotions and Thoughts (conceptual) at definite positions in the body. 

All the while, specific lifestyle changes can be made, which gradually harmonize oneself with the Higher Cosmoses, as one’s goal is to live in conjunction with either the Earth, Sun, or Milky Way, — i.e. the Meso-, Deutero-, & Macrocosmoses. The higher one perfects one’s Being and Knowledge (and perfects one’s Bodies) the higher one relates toward the levels of the Ray of Creation. And the more one is harmonized with the higher Worlds, the more one can assimilate Knowledge & Being from those levels.

“In order to remember himself more and more deeply, a man must believe in the existence of Greater Mind and he must begin to think psychologically apart from thinking literally. He must feel another reality of himself than that derived from life or parents.”

— Nicoll, COM p. 932

INITIATING AN APPROACH TO THE BODIES: ONE’S MOTIVATION 

As with the actual Gurdjieff Work itself, approaching the work of creating Higher Bodies requires a certain state of mind. One might say that in relation to the Gurdjieff “Work”, Higher Body formation and the search for immortality would be called the “Great Work”. Gurdjieff is clear that Man is not born with Higher Bodies ready-formed; Man has to create them himself. Man has only one body; a body consisting of a lot of mixed up Hydrogens — high and low — along with a lot of conflicting desires and thoughts. Certainly Man as he is can have spiritual thoughts and emotions. And this is perhaps how a Man, on the level of the Earthly Plane can begin to separate into two, or into also having a second Body, which is on the level of the Planetary World.

It is interesting to contrast the two natures, that of a physical body with that of an Astral Body; and it is important not to conflate the Astral Body with some sort of physical body double. A physical body generally exists to provide food, shelter, and self-preservation for itself, along with the eventual propagation of its species. An Astral Body however lasts as long as the Planetary World, and can even outlive the Earth itself. It isn’t concerned with its survival in an Earthly environment. Nor with the mundane aspects of survival: of career, possessions, and status. An Astral Body expresses itself differently from the Earthly Body. An Astral Body by nature would not be harmful to others; it would exhibit generosity; it would be patient; it would by nature have compassion for all; it would be long-suffering and understanding. It would have a unified Will in order to express these qualities. It would be conscious enough not to react negatively if someone insults it. These are the qualities which differentiate an Astral Body from a physical body.

However, yet again, Man now doesn’t possess the Astral Body. The question is, how does he initiate the process within his material body to achieve something spiritual, something completely different from his material body, something on a completely different level from ordinary life? The answer is, that he must formulate a Higher Aim, a Goal, which opens the Path to a Higher State. A Man must keep this Higher Aim in his ordinary life at all times, in his consciousness — or conscience — clearly. This Aim must approach a Higher Level, which is far above his daily existence. Perhaps at first this Aim is simply to be more conscious; perhaps it’s something like the desire for knowledge; perhaps it’s in response to meeting a Holy Saint. If a Man has a Higher Aim of some sort, an Aim not relating to the ordinary world, then already there is a division in him between higher and lower, between his physical body and the Astral, between daily mundane existence and a life after death.

The Major Religions all have this Aim, this initiating process within them. Of the two I know, Christianity has the “Search for the Kingdom of God” — or as in the parable, Leaven; and Buddhism has “Bodhicitta”  — or “From-Great-Compassion, the-Desire-to-Help-Others-Achieve-Buddhahood”: i.e. the Seed of Buddhahood. These are, like either leaven or a seed, something which one keeps within oneself and one follows throughout life. And as one treasures them and nourishes them, they grow; leading one to blossom into a son of God or a Buddha.

It is this leaven, seed, or aim which gradually transforms a person’s life from one of materialism to one of spirituality. And it is also the Holiness of that same Aim, Leaven or Seed which imbues the Higher Bodies with Holiness. As the ancients said, “It is good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end.”

THE METHOD OF HIGHER BODY CREATION

My method of Higher Body creation is an almost completely internal process; a technique of “contemplation” as I call it. Gurdjieff himself mentions “contemplation” in relation to coating the higher bodies. Most specifically, in his chapter “Hypnotism” he mentions both the breath and “aiësiritoorassian contemplation” in regards to formation of the kesdjan (astral) body and soul. However, the internal structure and energies necessary to carry out this sort of contemplation have to be in place first. Many Fourth Way practitioners will have this in place already, especially people who have been in the Work for years or decades.

My method in this blog is to start at the beginning, starting with the techniques and concepts one needs first to approach greater consciousness; and then to proceed hopefully step by step towards my interpretation of Gurdjieff’s “aiësiritoorassian contemplation”.

“Essence must be taught to develop. The Work does not start from Essence. It starts, in a man having magnetic centre, from those 'I's in him which, wish to work, and they form "Deputy-Steward". This is the first point of Work made in a man. It can break up: or it can become stronger.”

— Nicoll, COM p. 223

THE FIRST CONSCIOUS STEP: REMEMBERING ONESELF 

I mentioned earlier that one had to be prepared for the work on Higher Bodies; one had to have certain things established within oneself first. The reason I say this is that some middle and inner parts of Centers can’t even function at all without certain energies, which are specially created. However, fortunately for the Fourth Way folks out there, those special energies are created through Self-Remembering (along with the second conscious shock). I’m not wise enough to know if another person is Remembering Himself in the “proper way”. We are told in the Work that we must constantly reinvent Self-Remembering, to make it relevant to oneself and one’s situation. My feeling, though, is that there might be a way to initially convey the concept of Self-Remembering. And that Self-Remembering has a certain mechanics to it, which one can refer to for inner Work.

Remembering Oneself is the one thing we are told we can do, which has the potential to change us and which is safe for us to do. It is also the one conscious thing we are able to do. Not only that, but it allows several more Higher Energies to come about through transmutation. This in turn eventually allows the inner and middle parts of the Emotional and Intellectual Centers to open up.

In my next few blogs, I want to give my own interpretation of the technique of Self-Remembering. And I want to convey to an extent the Ouspensky/Nicoll teaching of Self-Remembering, along with one or two charts. I want to get a little into the Alchemy that goes along with Self-Remembering. And finally I want to get somewhat into the structure of the “Mind” or Intellectual Center, where most of the work of Self-Remembering takes place, along with much of the rewards.

Q. Is self-remembering the only strength the system hands out to us?

 A. It is the only way to reach all the rest, because it is the first thing that is lacking in us. We are always forgetting ourselves from one moment to another, and this state must be changed. One must remember oneself— this is the beginning and the end of the whole thing, because when one has that one has everything.   

— Ouspensky, The Fourth Way

If you’re new to Gurdjieff and have read no Fourth Way books, I recommend just picking up Ouspensky’s In Search of the Miraculous. It’s generally hard to understand, but it does give you a sense of what’s miraculous about this system. If you’re familiar with that book already, I recommend reading Nicoll’s Commentary, vol. 1. It does need the context of knowledge of the teaching, but Nicoll’s books are essentially like a textbook of the Fourth Way ideas.

Here is a link to the PDF Commentaries:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/172q9rY2TUAlof_V0rmAVr1l0fIYT1CL1?usp=share_link